To the Readier. 



ians themfdves: the which mofl of them that 

 have treated of the Indies could not doe, either not vnder- 

 fan ding the language , or not curious in the fear ch of their 

 Antiquities: fe& they havcbeene contented t& handle thofe 

 things which have beene moft common andfiperfciall. De- 

 firing therefore to have Jcme wore particular knowledge 

 thereof, 1 have beene carefull to tearnefrem men* of great eft 

 experience arsdbejlfeene in thefe matter s^and to gather fom 

 their difcottrfes and relations , what I have thought ft to 

 give knowledge ofthe_deedcs and cuftomej)jrfjjfi people. 

 And for that whichconcernes the nature efthofe Countries, 

 aud their properties , ihavt learned Lt by the experience of 

 many friends, jind by my dilligence tofearch> discover ^ and 

 confer re with men of Judgement and knowledge. In my. opi-* 

 mon there are many advertifements , which mayferve hnd 

 benefit better wits for the fear ching out of the truthjr topro- 

 ceede farther , in fading that pleafng which is centeined 

 heerein.So as although this ne w World be not new, but old^ 

 in refyectfif the much which hath beene written thereof \ yet 

 this hijlorie may in fomefort be held for new ^for it is partly 

 and partly philosophic all } as wellforj^at they are 



we workes vfnaiure^as offee-witl^ which are The deedes and 

 fuflomes of men , the which hath caufed mee to name it the 

 e 2^atura!i and MorattHtftorie of the Indies. Containing 

 thefi two things : Inthe frfttwo bookes mention & made of 

 that which concernesl^l}eavensj^fperjMre^ and habits 

 tion of the world^vlnch books 1 badfrft written in Latine,& 

 now 1 have translated them into Spanifo, vfmg more the li 

 berty of an author, then thejlrict bonds of a tranjlatorjo ap 

 ply my filfthe better to thofefor whom it is written in the vul 

 gar tong. Inthejwj^ollowing books \i* treated of that which 

 cdncernes the Elements and natur all mixtures, as Mettalls, 

 at elfe is remarkable at the Indies. The 



